Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT / 10am AK 

“Social Housing” is approaching buzzword status. But what does it actually mean? How does it benefit people who are homeless tonight? And what role can philanthropy play in advancing it? Let’s tackle all these questions and more.  

Join Funders Together as we continue our journey to clarify what it means to hold “housing justice” as our north star—creating the conditions where literally everyone enjoys safe, stable housing by prioritizing those most impacted by structural racism and oppression—without abandoning people who are already unhoused.  

We’ll hear from organizers and developers from politically disparate climates, California and Tennessee, to stitch together a common vision for social housing. Then we will learn from the Common Counsel Foundation, a leader in social housing organizing and development, who will offer concrete pathways for philanthropy to engage.   

Objectives  

1. Understand the principles of social housing in the broader housing ecosystem and its connection to “housing justice.”   
2. Identify the effectiveness and limitations of social housing in the work of reducing homelessness  
3. Make the case for philanthropy to fund advocacy for decommodification and related interventions  
   

Speakers 

• Scarlett De Leon (she/her) | Executive Director | ACT-LA 
• Emily Duma (she/her) | Director, Housing Justice | Common Counsel Foundation
• Stephen Watts (he/him) | Cooperative Housing Developer | Southeast Center for Cooperative Development 
• Michael Durham (he/they) | Director of Networks | Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator)  

Registration  

Please RSVP for this call using the button below. You will receive your unique Zoom link once a Funders Together staff person has approved your registration. You will receive your Zoom link directly from Zoom once you have been approved.  

Please note: Participation in Funders Together programming is limited to foundations, community foundations, grantmaking staff at United Ways, corporate giving programs, individual philanthropists, venture philanthropy and other non-traditional philanthropic giving entities, philanthropy-serving organizations, and members of Funders Together. Government funders and staff at organizations where grantmaking is not the primary function are not eligible to participate. Funders Together reserves the right to deny participation to individuals we believe do not meet participation eligibility criteria. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out to Rachelle A. Matthews,Director of Membership and Programs.    

Technology 

This funder call will take place via Zoom meetings. Registration will be open until May 18. If you do not receive your Zoom link or have technical issues logging into this call, please reach out to Michael Durham: [email protected]  

This call will last 75 minutes.